Antenna: News in English, 97-02-19

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

News in English, 19/02/97

TITLES

• The premier's popularity appears unblemished by protests.
• American travel agents learn about the attractions of Greece.
• And, a rare find in northern Greece.

AIRCRAFT

The f-15 is one of several planes on the Greek air force list of possible acquisitions.

As we hear in this report, the US seems to take a favourable view of Greek interest in the F-15s.

POLL

The Metron Analysis poll was conducted for the daily paper, Ta Nea.

Kostas Simitis turns in a 54.7 per cent popularity showing with those asked. That places him third among party leaders, behind Nikos Konstantopoulos of the Left Coalition and Dimitris Tsovolas of the Democratic Movement.

Political Spring's Antonis Samaras polls fourth, folllowed by Aleka Papariga of the communist party and New Democracy's Miltiades Evert.

The most popular cabinet members are, from first to fifth, the culture, interior, alternate foreign, and foreign ministers.

The development and finance ministers finish sixth and seventh, followed by the labour minister. Education minister Gerasimos Arsenis appears to have been roughed up by the teachers' strike, as his popularity drops to just 50 per cent. Agriculture minister Stefanos Tzoumakas finishes with a 49 per cent showing, perhaps because of the tussle with the nation's farmers.

ND

Miltiades Evert's popularity WITHIN his own party will be tested at the party congress in March - where a new party leader will be elected.

Evert is expected to announce his candidacy. His main opponent so far is Giorgos Souflias, one of whose strong points is the appeal he is believed to have with voters across party lines.

Other candidates may be announced soon. Among them, MP Kostas Karamanlis, nephew of the party's founder.

A meeting was scheduled for Tuesday night, to discuss other possible candidacies, including Karamanlis's.

MPs close to Evert and Souflias were invited to attend and offer their thoughts.

Karamanlis has not said yet whether or not he intends to seek the leadership mantle.

CONFERENCE

For two days, delegates exchanged views on Greek- American friendship, and discussed relations between their two countries.

The theme of the congress was "The moment of Hellenism and Orthodoxy". A number of things were discussed: the role of Greek expatriates in promoting Hellenism; the Church; Greek foreign policy concerns, and social and cultural matters.

The main message was that Hellenism and Orthodoxy are inseparable, and much talk focussed on the role of Greek culture in modern society.

Academics, diplomats, businesspeople, journalists, politicians and representatives of the orthodox church contributed their thoughts.

Iannis Hatzifotis, press officer for the archdiocese of Athens said the congress is important because at a time when Greece is confronting difficulties, Hellenism and Orthodoxy are the best compass through stormy waters, just as they were during the years of Turkish rule.

Giagkos Pesmatzoglou, an academic, offered his views on Greek foreign policy. He said the congress is an attempt to study Greek foreign policy within the framework of international developments. For that reason, it's important that it was attended by Greeks from the US.

Antonis Vouyiouklakis, representing Political Spring, talked about the values imparted by Greece through the ages. "The great, ancient values of Greek civilisation, and its teachings, must be valued by us, and built upon", he said.

The reverend Dimitris Konstantelos agreed that Hellenism has much to offer the modern world.

A critical eye is needed, he said, to see what is of lasting value, what is passing, what can be revised, to figure out how to confront the problems of the modern, materialistic world. He added that we should always remind ourselves that man is a spiritual being.

Elevtherios Doukas, a pathologist said that todaythere must be unity amongst nations committed tofighting for freedom. Greece has long been in thefront line of the struggle for freedom anddemocracy, he added, and has much to contribute totoday's battle.

The congress was held under the aegis of archbishop of Athens and Greece, Serafim.

CONGRESS

The Organisation held its first seminar of the year for travel agents in New York. The themes were Crete and the four thousand years of Greek culture.

Six hundred tourist agencies took part in the teach-in, which had plenty of entertaining moments, like folk music and dances from all over Greece.

Organisation director Alexandros Mourkoyiannis was satisified with the way the seminar went. He said he's optimistic that the recent growth of foreign tourism in Greece will continue this year.

He added that 45 seminars are being held all over the US to bring US travel agents into contact with American and Greek-American tour operators who do business in Greece. The goal is to repeat the 20 to 25 per cent growth in foreign tourism experienced in 1996.

Which may not be as daunting as it sounds: there has already been a significant growth in bookings and in requests for information about Greek tourist facilities.

SEAL

This rare female Mediterranean or Monachus- Monachus, appears to have lost its bearings. Fisherman discovered the the animal in Kymina, a little bruised, and with an injury above its eye, but in no danger.

Panos GeravrOs of the Mediterranean seal protection society says the mammal is SO RARE that it should be considered the number one endangered species in Europe.

This seal was first spotted three weeks ago, in another area also near Thessaloniki.

Fisherman and scientists have been willing to come to the animal's rescue and move it to a more natural habitat, but no help seems to be needed or wanted. GeravrOs explains that the seal is an adult, and has no trouble hitting the road on its own.

Or surviving. Biologist Evgenia Andrikidou says it's had no trouble finding food.

DOLPHIN

The creature bottled itself up in the port of Iraklio in Crete. Fishermen who spotted it, immediately contacted the port authority and the Marine Biology Institute.

A small boat tried to lure the dolphin closer with a whistle, so scientists could see if it was sick or injured. Without luck.

Biologist Katie Siakarava said as far as she could see, the animal looked unwell, like it didn't have any energy.

IANNENA

Marking the event, Union members held a series of events in central Athens, including a parade.

Wreathes were laid at the tomb of the unknown soldier, in honour of all those who gave their lives that Greece might once again be free.

MESOVRACHO VILLAGE

Many of those villages are now abandoned.

As we hear in this report, in the village of Mesovracho, a few residents have tenaciously refused to pack their bags and leave.

Mesovracho, as its Greek name suggests, is built on the middle of a large rock. It's long forgotten by the rest of the world, but its three remaining residents haven't given up on their home town.

This woman says she's lived here all her life. How long is that? A hundred years, she replies with a laugh.

She spends her days tending the garden, if it's growing season.

How does she like living in what is all but a ghost town?

"It's OK", she says. "I have neighbours, a brother".

One of the other residents remembers that there were once 30 families in the village. "There are thirty houses", he says.

Poverty drove everyone away he says. "What would people do here in winter?", he asks rhetorically, "Freeze? They have kids in school.

The going can be tough, he admits. "When you don't have any neighbours to call out to... Everyone wants someone to greet, to chit-chat with".

Despite the loneliness, though, the few remaining residents maintain their freshness, and keep the flame of their souls burning bright.

And wherever there is a soul, there is music.

KITROS PIERIAS

In the village of Kitros Pierrias, Dionysian tradition was preserved and tranformed in the feast day of St Trifonas.

The rituals with their roots in ancient times are practised to this day.

In ancient times, the god of wine and the vineyard was Dionysos.

It is said that he was succeeded by the Christian saint, Trifonas, whose feast day is bathed in ritual and celebration every year.

Trifonas is the patron saint of those who work in vineyards and gardeners.

On the feast day, work in the vineyards is forbidden. Tradition has it that a man who once through the prohibition to the wind, cut his nose while cutting vines on the day.

And so the feast day starts with the ritual re- enactment of him cutting his nose - blood and all.

One man taking part in the festivities explains:

"The man who broke with tradition, cut his nose. Everyone ran to help him, and no one ever worked on the feast day again".

Another man says "Our community is rich in history and tradition. Together, we try to keep tradition alive, and guarantee its future".

The residents of the village brought the traditions of this day with them from the north, from eastern Roumelia.

This man explains, "We came here from Bulgaria in 1925. We've hung on to the traditions. We started by enacting the wrestling, then we got the dances going".

The wrestling ritual symbolises the struggle between winter and spring, a battle always won by spring.

The winner's prize is a lamb, which symbolises purity.

The day's events conclude with celebration and dance....And plenty of wine.

© ANT1 Radio 1997

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